The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1887-03-25
Death Of 3. o. Williams.

day morning, Benjamin Oliver Will
.iams. aged 76 years, 4 months and
10 days.
To write fitting tribute to any o.
the pioneers is not an easy task. Tic
pen the obituary notice of the found
er of an important city, and a con
spicuous figure in the development OF
the county and State, is an under,
taking Of no small means, yet il
seems almost unnecessary to say a
great deal concerning the subject oil
this sketch his life is part of the
life of the city; his handiwork is to
be seen all around us, on every hand
is the mark of his energy, push and
years OF determined toll. What can
We say of this life that shall be new to
any of the old settlers hereabouts?
And who of the younger generation
does not know OF his deeds and works?
And how many are there in this COM
munity that have not heard the tale
of the earlier days in this county
from his own lips?
B. 0. Williams was the sixth child
of Maj. Oliver and Mrs. Mary Viii.
liams, early settlers in This State. He
was born in Concord, Mass, Nov. 10,
1870, and in the fall of 1875, came to
this State with his parents, who 10.
Gated IN Detroit, and remained there
until 1919 when they removed to
Waterford township, Oakland county,
and purchased farm. Mr.. Williams
resided there until August, 1891,
when he with his brother, the late
A. l.. Williams, came to this county
and established a trading post, COM
monty known as the "Shiawassee
Exchange" where A. l.. Williams
had entered an eighty acre tract of
land-at this time the county was
wholly wilderness. Two years later,
in 1883, they purchased land at Che
boo wa ting (Owosso), being the first
purchase OF land in the north half OF
the county. In 1885, b. o. established
a mercantile business at Pontiac and
remained there two years. In the
spring of 1887, the brothers came to
Owosso and located permanently on
the lands purchased by them, and at
once commenced the work of extend.
ing and adding to the Improvements
which they had begun here in the fall
of 1885, and laid the foundation of
the now beautiful and prosperous city
of Owosso, and in whose history B.
O. Williams has attained lasting
monument In 1898 he was married
to Miss Sophia A. Smith, of CanaI.
daigua, New York. From this time until
the discovery of goldin California in
1850, Mr.. Williams was engaged in
several enterprises in and around
Owosso-notably those of grubbing
and clearing forty miles of the line Of
the old Northern Railroad" (from
the centre of Shiawassee county west
ward to Lyons, Ionia Coz, which was
commenced in '3S and completed in
80; and also to grade ten miles on
the same road east of Lyons.
Soon after the discovery of gold in
California, the two brothers resolved |
to try the experiment of mining on
the Pacific slope, and in the year 1850 |
tn y migrated thither, took up acclaim
in Nevada county and commenced |
operations The claim was named |
"Pontiac HILL" and was the first hill
diggins opened in California. The
history Of that county gives to the
brothers the credit of finishing the
first water race for gold washing in
the county. Gold was found in pay
ing quantities and this claim was
worke d for two years, when it was
sold and they returned to Owosso.
In 1852 they again went to California
and located in Sierra Co. In 1864
B. o., in company with Col. Hayden,
OF Ohio, was IN Honduras, Central
America, on tour for the discovery
and working of gold and silver mines.
Their research was extended, but
resulted in no extensive operations.
After he returned from Honduras he
passed most of the time in this city.
In 1860, Mr.. Williams was elected
Mayor of Owosso; 1861, supervisor;
and at various times had held the
office of Justice of the Peace, School
Director, etc. Mr.. w. was a staunch
Democrat, always acting and voting
with that party from 1899 until the
until the time Of his death--but
at no time did he seek Office, although
at various times positions of honor
could have been attained by him.
The immediate cause of Mr.. Will
liams death was apoplexy, compli.
Gated with paralysis. About the
middle of December, 1885, he was
with paralysis, and from that
time until his death was confined to
the house most CT the time. On
Friday last he was taken decidedly
worse and from that time failed fast
until the hour of his death.